Sippy, this has always bothered me too. I think the answer is that Sting either mistakenly picked the wrong radioactive isotope or he realized that not many things rhyme with "uranium". I'm sure he was trying to make the point that nuclear waste is a big problem, and two times the half-life of carbon 14 is nealry 12,000 years. But there's no reason why reducing the amount to 25% would be how long it is deadly and, bigger point, carbon 14 isn't in nuclear waste! Thanks for mentioning this, Sippy -- I sought out this song just to make that point myself!
most people were not very knowledgeable thirty years ago about radioactive elements. carbon-14 was probably a radioactive buzz word (and easy to rhyme). they didn't have the internet back then, so if he referenced some obscure particle that's a product of nuclear reactor waste, it may have just confused more people. songs often take liberties....sting is obviously not a nuclear physicist, either.
most people were not very knowledgeable thirty years ago about radioactive elements. carbon-14 was probably a radioactive buzz word (and easy to rhyme). they didn't have the internet back then, so if he referenced some obscure particle that's a product of nuclear reactor waste, it may have just confused more people. songs often take liberties....sting is obviously not a nuclear physicist, either.
Sippy, this has always bothered me too. I think the answer is that Sting either mistakenly picked the wrong radioactive isotope or he realized that not many things rhyme with "uranium". I'm sure he was trying to make the point that nuclear waste is a big problem, and two times the half-life of carbon 14 is nealry 12,000 years. But there's no reason why reducing the amount to 25% would be how long it is deadly and, bigger point, carbon 14 isn't in nuclear waste! Thanks for mentioning this, Sippy -- I sought out this song just to make that point myself!
most people were not very knowledgeable thirty years ago about radioactive elements. carbon-14 was probably a radioactive buzz word (and easy to rhyme). they didn't have the internet back then, so if he referenced some obscure particle that's a product of nuclear reactor waste, it may have just confused more people. songs often take liberties....sting is obviously not a nuclear physicist, either.
most people were not very knowledgeable thirty years ago about radioactive elements. carbon-14 was probably a radioactive buzz word (and easy to rhyme). they didn't have the internet back then, so if he referenced some obscure particle that's a product of nuclear reactor waste, it may have just confused more people. songs often take liberties....sting is obviously not a nuclear physicist, either.